Protector for mattresses



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,535

H. L. KAUFMANN PROTECTOR FOR MATTRESSES Filed April 26, 1924 s sheets sneep 1 8 a 70 wventoz:

Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,535 H L. KAUFMANN' PROTECTORVFOR MATTRESSES Filed April 26, 1924; s sheets-sheet 2 3 mam Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,535

H. L KAUFMANN PROTECTOR FOR MATTRESSES Fild April 26, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 anon 1470c:

WWW

affozwuzsg Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

HENRY LEO KAUFMANN,OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROTECTOR FOR MATTRESSES.

Application filed April 26, 1924. Serial No. 709,169.

This invention relates to an improved protector for mattresses, the same being particularly adapted for hospital beds and the like. The object of the invention is to provide improved mattress protecting means of a simple, efficient nature capable of being quickly and easily applied and removed. that will afford a protective covering tightly drawn and held smooth and free from wrinkles over the mattress, that will remain in adjusted position and that will not interfere with the usual method of tucking in the bed clothes beneath the mattress, and that also.

protecting means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a detail view on an enlarged. scale of.the structure at the transverse slits.

-Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view with parts shown in sectionand side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the protector applied to a hospital bed adjusted to support sections of the mattress at an angle to each other.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the protector applied to a bed with a mattress extending in fiat condition throughout.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line (S6 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing a slightly modified fornrof the protector applied to a hospital bed adjusted to support the mat tress with sections thereof disposed at an angle to each other.

The invention comprehends mattress protecting means comprising a sheet of relatively light flexible protective material having separate spreading and stretching rods ormembers associated with separate sections of the sheet alongeach side marginal portion thereof, flexible strap members, and means for connecting the strap members to the spreading and stretching rods and a bed, the strap members extending from the spreadlng and stretching rods down around the side of the mattress and between the same and the bed spring, and being'secured to the latter. The invention further compreh'ends mattress protecting means of the character referred to in which the sheet at a point or points, intermediate its ends at either side thereof has a slit or slits, as the case may be, extending inwardly thereof for a short distance from its side marginal edges between and separating the different sections of the sheet having the separate spreading and stretching rods, the sheet being adapted to be arranged over the mattress with the adjoining portions of adjacent sections of the sheet having separate spreadingrods disposed at the line of fold or bend of adjoining angularly related sections of a mattress as when the head section of the bed is adjusted in raised position, or the mattress is supported in Fowlers position. Referring to a detail description of the particular embodiment of the invention il lustrated Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, 1 designates the sheet of flexible protective material, the same being constructed of relatively light rubber sheeting or equivalent material. The sheet 1 is provided along its side marginal edges with separate hems 2,

3, in which are arranged spreading and stretching members or rods 2 3, of wood or other suitable material. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings, Figures 1 to 6, the sheet 1 is shown provided with two hems 2, 3, and two spreading and stretching rods 2, at either side thereof, the separate hems 2, 3, and the spreading rods 2*, 3*, at either-side of the sheet 1 being, as shown, substantially equal in length and correspondingly arranged opposite each other to extend along the same length or section of the sheet. The hems 2, 3, at each side of the sheet 1 are spaced from each other, and the sheet is provided at either side with transverse slits 4 extending inwardly there- 7 ing rod.

of from its marginal edges at a point between the hems 2, 3, the different sections of the sheet with the separate hems and spreading and stretching rods being adapted to be ar ranged to extend at an angle to each other.

The hems 2, 3, are shown closed at one end by stitching and at the other end by rivets or eyelets 5. The sheet is reinforced around the slits by extra strips or pieces '6 and lines of stitching 6. 7 designates the flexible strap members and 8 are coupling devices for connecting one end of the strap members 7 to the spreading and stretching rods 2 3*". Each coupling device 8 consists of two plate members having semi-circular shaped portions 8 to fit around a hem and a spreading rod, and flat portions 8 which are secured together by a rivet 9 so that the semi-circular portions 8*" are tightly clamped about the hem and spread- 10. designates tacks or equivalent fastening members extending through the coupling devices8 and into the stretching rods 2 3 and serving to positively secure the coupling devices to the rods. The rivet 9 at one side is provided with an extension 9 shaped at its outer end to form a head to engage a spring socket member 11 on one end of the straps 7. Each strap member 7 at its other end has a snap hook 12 to engage a part of a bed spring, the end of the strap member being shown looped through the eye of the snap hook 12 and provided with a buckle 13 to provide for adjusting the length of. the strap.

The protector is adapted to be used with a bed having its mattress in flat condition, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, and also when the mattress is supported with sections disposed at an angle to each other, as when the head section is raised, ,orwhen the mattress is supported in Fowlers position. In the use of the device the strap members 7 Y are arranged to extend between the mattress over the mattress.

the sides of'the mattress, as shown.

14 and the bed spring 15, one end of the strap members 7 being connected to the bed spring by engaging the snap'hook 12 with an eye or loop of the bed spring 15, and the other end of the strap member 7 being connected to the stretching and spreading rods 2, 3, of the sheet 1 by engaging the spring sockets 11 at one end of the straps with the heads of the extensions 9 on the coupling devices 8, the strap members 7 being adjusted so that the proper tension is exerted tl'irough the spreading and stretching rods 2, 3 upon the sheet to hold the same tightly and smoothly drawn The sheet 1, as shown, is preferably slightly greater than the width of the. mattress so that when arranged there over, marginal portions of the sheet with the hems 2,-3, and spreading rods 2, 3 lying at As will be understood when the protector is applied to a bed with the head section elevated the mousse sheet is arranged as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, with the adjoining portion of.

the sheet between the different sections having the separate hems and stretching rods disposed at the bend or fold A out the angularly related intermediate and head section of the mattress. In the particular form of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to '6 of the draw of the sheetso that the latter can lie smoothly over the elevated portion 5 of the mattress. The protective covering sheet 1 can be quickly removed or replaced by simply disengaging the spring sockets 11 of the strap members 7 from the. heads of the extensions 9 of the rivets, or snapping the same thereover.

I The modified form of protector illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings is the same in construction as the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 except that the protector sheet is of a length'to extend completely over the upper part of the mattress and three pairs of hems and spreading and stretching rods are employed instead of two, the hems and stretching rods or members at either side of the sheet being of a length to correspond with the length of and to be associated with the sections of the mattress that are disposed at an angle to each other when the mattress is supported in Fowlers position as shown. In this view 16 designates the protector sheet provided at either side with hems 17, 18. 19, in which are arranged separate spreading rods 20, 21, and 22, and 23 are the strap members.

It will be noted that by the special con struction and arrangement of parts herein before set forth, a protecting means is atforded that provides for securely holding the protective sheet element smoothly and tightly stretched out over the mattress entirely free from wrinkles, the device being capable of use with a mattress having portions thereof disposed at an angle to each other in accordance with the usual hospital practice as well as when the mattress extends in a flat condition. The holding of the protector sheet tightly stretched in a smooth unwrinkled rondition throughout over the mattress, so

andwill prevent slipping of the mattress. Furthermore the invention results in the saving of at least one half the amount of sheeting formerly required according to the old method in which the protective covering was made wide enough to provide a suflicient overlap at the sides of the mattress to tuck in between the mattress and bed springto maintain the covering in position. Also by preventing wrinkling of the protector sheet, cracking of the same is prevented, so that the extent of service of the protective sheet is materially increased.

I claim:

1. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material, and stretchingand holding means including separate spreading members associated with sepa rate sections of the sheet at the side marginal portions thereof, the oppositely disposed spreading members of the respective sections of the sheet being of substantially equal length, flexible strap members, and means for connecting one of the strap members to'each one of, the spreading members and to a bed bottom.

2. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protectivematerial provided at each side with separate hems along separate side marginal portions thereof, separate rod members in said hems, flexible straps, and means for connecting one of the straps to each one of the rod members and a bed.

3. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material, provided at each side with a hem along a side marginal portion thereof, rod members in the hems, flexible straps, and means for connecting the straps to the said rod members and a bed, said means including coupling de- Vices each having a portion fitting around oneof the hems androd members, and having a part thereon for engagement by a part on one of the straps, and securing members extending through the coupling -levices and into the rod members. i

4. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material provided at each side with a hem along a side marginal portion thereof, rod members in the hems, flexible strap members. and means for connecting the strap members to the said rod members and a bed, said means including coupling devices each comprising a pair of plate members having portions to fit about opposite sides of one of the hems and one of the .rod members and oppositely disposed extension parts secured together, and a part on and'projecting outwardly from said extension parts to be detachably engaged by a part on one of the straps.

5. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material, said sheet at a point intermediate its endshaving a slit either side thereof extending inwardly from its marginal edges, said slits extending in alignment with each other, separate stretching members associated with separate sections of the sheet at each side'marginal portion thereof at each side of said slits, flexihle'strap members, and means for connecting the strap members to said stretching members and a bed.

6. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of. flexible protective material, and stretching and holding means including separate spreading members associated with separate sections of the sheet at each side marginal portion thereof, flexible strap members, each of said strap members having a snap hook at one end to engage a part of a spring bed bottom, and detachable means for connecting the other ends of the strap memhers to said spreading members. j

7. The combination with a hospital bed having adjustable sections to support a inattress with sections thereof disposed at an angle to each other, of a mattress protector comprising a sheet of flexible protective material, said sheet at a point intermediate its ends having a slit at either side extending inwardly thereof from its marginal edges, said slits extending in alignment with each other, separate stretching members associated with separate sections of the sheet at each. side marginal portion thereof at either side of said slits, flexible strap members, and means for connecting the strap members to" said stretching members and the bed, said sheet being adapted to be arranged over the mattress with the slits of the sheet extending transversely in line with the adjoining portions of the sections of the mattress that are disposed at an angle to each other.

8. The combination with a hospital bed having adjustable sections to support a mattress withsections thereof disposed in angular relation, of a mattress protector comprising a sheet of flexible protective material, and stretching and holding means including separate spreading members I associated with separate sections of the sheet at each side marginal portion thereof, flexible strap me1nbers, and means for connecting said strap members to the spreading members and the bed, said sheet being adapted to be arranged over the mattress with the intermediate adjoining-l'iortions of the-sections of the-sheet having the separate spreading members located at the line of fold or bend of the matsion parts together and having a. rtion pro jectin'g therefrom to be demo-ha 1y engaged by the socket of one of the strap members. 1

In testimony whereof E hereunto afix my signature,

HENRY Leo KAUFMANN. 

